CLEVELAND — Dub Jones, a staring member of the Browns' early "dynasty" years, has died at the age of 99.
The organization announced Jones' death Saturday, adding, "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends." The Louisiana native won five league titles during his eight seasons in Cleveland, and achieved football immortality by becoming the first player in NFL history to score six touchdowns in a single game.
A multi-sport athlete at Ruston High School, William Augustus Jones began his college career at LSU before transferring to Tulane, earning All-America honors in 1944. Following a stint in the U.S. Navy, he was selected second overall in the 1946 NFL Draft by the Chicago Cardinals, but chose instead to sign with the Miami Seahawks of the upstart All-American Football Conference.
Jones spent just nine games with the struggling Seahawks before being traded to the similarly floundering Brooklyn Dodgers, where he spent all of 1947. That offseason, in what can only be described as one of the greatest trades in Browns history, legendary coach Paul Brown brought Jones to Cleveland in exchange for the rights to quarterback Bob Chappuis.
Chappuis was out of pro football after just two years, but now with the best team in the AAFC, Jones began to shine. Playing halfback, he cracked the starting lineup for good in 1949, showing off his abilities as both a ball-carrier and pass-catcher as the Browns capped a string of four straight league championships.
Jones' success continued when the club moved to the NFL in 1950, scoring 11 total touchdowns as Cleveland debuted by winning the title yet again. Jones then became a first-team All-Pro in 1951 with 1,062 scrimmage yards and 12 scores, but it was on Nov. 25 of that season that he would forever etch his name into the sport's record books.
With the Browns hosting the Chicago Bears at Municipal Stadium, Jones ran the ball nine times for 116 yards and caught three passes for another 80 yards. When the game ended with a 42-21 Cleveland victory, Jones had scored all six of his team's touchdowns (four rushing, two receiving), setting a new all-time mark for any player in one game. The total still stands, though it has since been matched by Gale Sayers in 1965 and Alvin Kamara in 2020.
Jones notched another Pro Bowl nod in 1952 and helped the Browns win two more NFL championships in 1954 and '55, retiring after the latter year's title game. He finished his 10-season pro career with 5,084 yards from scrimmage and 41 TDs, including 4,784 yards and 40 scores with Cleveland.
After his playing days were over, Jones returned to Cleveland in 1963 as an assistant coach, becoming the team's offensive play-caller under Blanton Collier. He remained in the role for six seasons, including during the team's NFL title triumph in 1964. In addition, his son Bert spent 10 years as an NFL quarterback, and was named league MVP in 1976 while with the Baltimore Colts.
The Browns honored Jones in 2004 by inducting him among their class of team "Legends." According to the team, he is survived in death by his wife Schump, seven children, 22 grandchildren, and 48 great-grandchildren.
